HLT40312
Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice
E-LEARNING MATERIAL & ASSESSMENTS
Book two:
HLTREM401D Work within a massage framework
HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures
HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes
HLTCOM405D Administer a practice
DEMONSTRATION UNIT DELIVERY STYLE complete unit contains 113 pages
Assessment guidelines
FORMATIVE TASKS.
Formatives are activities located throughout the learning material which you need to complete and submit to your trainer for
comments. They allow you to continually demonstrate your ability to perform the required skills and knowledge for these unit.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS.
The summative assessment uses the performance criteria, range statement, critical evidence and employability skills as
the checklist for demonstration of the required skills and knowledge. Your trainer will deem you either competent
or not yet competent based on your performance in the summative assessments.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT A. KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS
You are required to learn the information in this learning material covering the units of;
•Work within a massage framework.
•Comply with infection control policies and procedures.
•Contribute to WHS processes.
•Administer a practice.
At each formative checkpoint your trainer will provide you with a series of knowledge questions covering the information
in this learning material. You are to answer these questions within an allocated time frame. You will be assessed on
demonstration of your knowledge on this subject matter.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT B. DEVELOP OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR A MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE. DOCUMENT
ASSESSMENT
You are to demonstrate your knowledge and technical skills by developing procedures for the operations of a massage
therapy practice. Your procedures are to include daily administration, marketing strategies, financial documentation and
human resources for payroll and employee records. You are to address the issues of work health and safety for staff and
clients, infection control, waste minimisation and daily cleaning and maintenance tasks. You are to develop procedures
for delivering massage treatments using professional standards, treatment timeframes, fee structure, routine duties and
stock control. All procedures must comply with statutory and regulatory requirements. Submit your typed document to
your trainer for assessment.
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HLTREM401D Work within a massage framework
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively within a massage framework.
This unit contains employability skills.
Application of the unit.
This unit may apply to work in massage in a range of settings and contexts.
Performance criteria covered within this training programme
1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,2.1,2.2,2.3,3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,5.1,5.2,5.3
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HLTREM401D Work within a massage framework
Elements and performance criteria standards
Each element stipulates the skills and knowledge you will achieve when you correctly complete each of the evaluative
statements listed in the performance criteria. Throughout this learning material you will be participating in performing
the criteria tasks to achieve the required skills and knowledge in order to be deemed competent in this unit.
ELEMENT
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Demonstrate commitment to
the central philosophies of
massage practice
1.1. Provide definition of massage and the massage system of treatment
1.2. Provide an overview of the historical development of massage
1.3. Identify and explain massage principles
1.4. Draw upon massage philosophy to interpret health issues
2. Identify and describe the
2.1. Identify and describe major methods of treatment used in massage
principles and practices of massage 2.2. Identify and describe other complementary therapies used in massage
2.3. Identify and describe massage assessment techniques
3. Develop knowledge of
3.1. Provide information on other complimentary therapies
complementary therapies
3.2. Explain similarities and differences between physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic therapy
and massage therapy
3.4. Identify the relationship between therapies
4. Represent massage framework
4.1. Explain the practices and principles of massage in an easily understood way in a one-to -one
to the community
and group setting
4.2. Clarify enquiries and provide appropriate information
4.3. Make requests for client to bring relevant data to consultation
4.4. Discuss alternative sources of information and advice as discussed
5. Work within clinic and
5.1. Assess and follow clinic guidelines
regulation guidelines
5.2. Access and follow legal and regulatory guidelines
5.3. Undertake relevant documentation
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SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
1.Appropriately record details of client enquiries according to clinic
1.A range of alternative and complementary therapies
guidelines
2.Ethical issues in body therapies
2.Correctly identify client information needs
3.WHS requirements in the workplace
3.Demonstrte communication skills in a one-to-one and group setting
4.Philosophical tradition of western and eastern body
4.Explain relevant products and services
treatments
5.Provide client with required information
5.Sociology of health and the health care system
6.Work or model work which demonstrates an understanding of
6.The effects of massage on the body surface
underpinning values and philosophies in the massage framework
7.The history and development of massage
8.Organisation policies, procedures and guidelines
9.The philosophies, principles and tools of massage practice
10.The qualitative, quantitative, cultural and traditional lines of
evidence used in massage
11.The rationalistic, analytical approach to an understanding of
disease
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HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes
This unit specifies the workplace performance required by a worker to contribute to work health and safety (WHS)
processes where there is responsibility for own work outputs and possibly limited responsibility for the work output of
others. This unit contains employability skills.
Application of the unit.
Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any specific workplace risks, hazards and associated safety
practices
Performance criteria covered within this training programme
1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5,1.6,1.7,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,5.1,5.2,5.3
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HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes
Elements and performance criteria standards
Each element stipulates the skills and knowledge you will achieve when you correctly complete each of the evaluative
statements listed in the performance criteria. Throughout this learning material you will be participating in performing
the criteria tasks to achieve the required skills and knowledge in order to be deemed competent in this unit.
ELEMENT
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Plan and conduct work safely
1.1. Plan work in accordance with relevant WHS legislation, standards, codes of
practice/compliance codes and guidance material
1.2. Identify hazards as part of work planning and work process
1.3. Address identified hazards prior to starting work using judgement within defined scope of
responsibilities
1.4. Report residual risk according to organisation procedures
1.5. Report incidents and injuries in line with organisation policies and procedures
1.6. Undertake WHS housekeeping in work area
1.7. Monitor own levels of stress and fatigue to ensure ability to work safely and sustainably
2. Support others in working safely 2.1. Share information on safe work practices and work procedures with others, including members
of the work group where relevant
2.2. Check the WHS practices of less experienced members of the workgroup or other stakeholders
in the work context
2.3. If appropriate provide guidance and coaching to less experienced members of the work group
to support them in working safely
2.4. If appropriate support others and accurately record incidents and complete associated
workplace documentation according to organisational procedures
3. Contribute to WHS participative 3.1. Raise WHS issues in accordance with organisation procedures within appropriate timeframes
processes
3.2. Contribute to workplace meetings, workplace inspections or other consultative activities
3.3. Provide assistance to workgroup members or other stakeholders o contribute to workplace
safety
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ELEMENT
4. Contribute to hazard
identification, WHS risk
assessment and risk control
activities
5. Participate in the control of
emergency situations
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
4.1. Report identified hazard and inadequacies in risk controls within appropriate timeframes
4.2. Check the workplace for hazards using itemised checklists in accordance with work procedures
4.3. Contribute to risk assessments
4.4. Provide input to development and implementation of control measures, with reference to the
hierarchy of risk control
5.1. Identify emergency signals and alarms and respond to them appropriately
5.2. Take initial action to control/confine emergency according to organisation procedures and
taking account of the nature and scope of the emergency
5.3. Implement emergency response procedures within scope of training and competence
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SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
1.Contribute to WHS processes in the work context by;
1.Basic hazard identification procedures such as workplace inspections
-addressing their own health and safety
and review of workplace data
-addressing health and safety of others who may be affected by
2.Hierarchy of risk control and its application
their actions
3.Nature of common workplace hazards relevant to work role
-identifying ways to keep up to date with current WHS issues as
4.Personal protective equipment requirements including use, storage
they apply to workplace systems, equipment and processes
and maintenance
-supporting members of the workgroup who may be less
5.Principles of basic risk assessment
experienced in the workplace in regard to WHS matters
6.Relationship between WHS and sustainability in the workplace,
-taking initiative to address hazards and manage risks at a systemic including the contribution of maintaining health and safety to
level
environment, economic, workforce and social sustainability
2.Check the workplace for hazards and risks using an itemised
7.Roles and responsibilities of HRS’s and HSC’s
checklist
8.Roles and responsibilities of workers, officers, and persons
3.Provide advice and feedback in a constructive and supportive
conducting a business or undertaking
manner
9.Safety signs and their meanings for dangerous goods class,
4.Take into account and use opportunities to address waste
emergency equipment, personal protective equipment and specific
minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice hazards such as sharps and radiation
issues
10.Sources of WHS information within the workplace and awareness
of external sources of WHS information, including Safe Work Australia
and relevant state/territory regulators
11.Standard emergency signals, alarms and required responses
12.The difference between hazard and risk and the legal rights and
responsibilities of workplace parties
13.Workplace specific information; hazards of the work environment,
hazard identification procedures relevant to hazards, designated
persons for raising WHS issues, organisation of work procedures
related to performance of own work, specific hazards and risk control,
reporting hazards, incidents, injuries and WHS issue resolution,
consultation, use of PPE and emergency response
14.Potential emergency situations, alarms and signals and required
response
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HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required for workers to comply with infection control
policies and procedures. All procedures must be carried out in accordance with current infection control guidelines,
Australian and New Zealand Standards for maintaining infection control and the policies and procedures of the
organisation. This unit acknowledges the importance of complying with an effective infection control strategy that
ensures the safety of the client (or end-user of health-related products/services), maintains personal protection and
prevents the transmission of infections from person to person. All tasks must be carried out in accordance with State or
Territory legislative requirements that affect work practices of the organisation and/or worker. This unit contains
employability skills.
Application of the unit.
This unit is applicable to workers who are responsible for following workplace procedures to maintain infection control.
Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any specific workplace infection risks, hazards and associated
infection control practices.
Performance criteria covered within this training programme
1.1,1.2,1.3,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7,3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,4.1,4.2,5.1,5.2,5.3,6.1,6.2,6.3,6.4,6.5,7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4,7.5,7.6,7.7
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HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures
Elements and performance criteria standards
Each element stipulates the skills and knowledge you will achieve when you correctly complete each of the evaluative
statements listed in the performance criteria. Throughout this learning material you will be participating in performing
the criteria tasks to achieve the required skills and knowledge in order to be deemed competent in this unit.
ELEMENT
1. Follow infection control
guidelines
2. Identify and respond to
infection risks
3. Maintain personal hygiene
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1.1. Demonstrate the application of standard precautions to prevent the spread of infection in
accordance with organisation requirements
1.2. Demonstrate the application of additional precautions when standard precautions alone may
not be sufficient to prevent transmission of infection
1.3. Minimise contamination of materials, equipment and instruments by aerosols and splatter
2.1. Identify infection risks and implement an appropriate response within own role and
responsibility
2.2. Document and report activities and tasks that put clients and/or other workers at risk
2.3. Respond appropriately to situations that pose an infection risk in accordance with the policies
and procedures of the organisation
2.4. Follow procedures for risk control and risk containment for specific risks
2.5. Follow protocols for care following exposure to blood or other body fluids as required
2.6. Place appropriate signs when and where appropriate
2.7. Remove spills in accordance with the policies and procedures of the organisation
3.1. Maintain hand hygiene by washing hands before and after client contact and/or after any
activity likely to cause contamination
3.2. Follow hand washing procedures
3.3. Implement hand care procedures
3.4. Cover cuts and abrasions with water proof dressings and change as necessary
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ELEMENT
4. Use personal protective
equipment
5. Limit contamination
6. Handle, package, label, store,
transport and dispose of clinical
and other waste
7. Clean environmental surfaces
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
4.1. Wear personal protective clothing and equipment that complies with Australian New Zealand
Standards and is appropriate for the intended use
4.2. Change protective clothing and gowns/aprons daily, more frequently if soiled and where
appropriate, after each client contact
5.1. Demarcate and maintain clean and contaminated zones in all aspects of health care work
5.2. Confine records, materials and medicaments to a well-designed clean zone
5.3. Confine contaminated instruments and equipment to a well-designed contaminated zone
6.1. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment in accordance with occupational
health and safety policies and procedures when handling waste
6.2. Separate waste at the point where it has been generated and dispose of into waste containers
that are colour coded and identified
6.3. Store clinical or related waste in an area that is accessible only to authorised persons
6.4.Handle, package, label, store, transport and dispose of waste appropriately to minimise potential
for contact with the waste and to reduce the risk to the environment from accidental release
6.5.Dispose of waste safely in accordance with policies and procedures of the organisation and
legislative requirements
7.1.Wear personal protective clothing and equipment during cleaning procedures
7.2.Remove all dust, dirt and physical debris from work surfaces
7.3.Clean all work surfaces with a neutral detergent and warm water solution before and after each
session or when visibly soiled
7.4.Decomtaminate equipment requiring special processing in accordance with quality management
systems to ensue full compliance with cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation protocols
7.5.Dry all work surfaces before and after use
7.6.Replace surface covers where applicable
7.7.Maintain and store cleaning equipment
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SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
1.Consistently apply hand washing, personal hygiene and personal
1.Additional precautions, aspects of infectious diseases including
protection protocols
opportunistic organisms, pathogens
2.Consistently apply clean and sterile techniques
2.Basic microbiology including bacteria and bacterial spores, fungi,
3.Consistently apply protocols to limit contamination
viruses
4.Apply standard precautions
3.Clean and sterile techniques
-consistently ensure instruments used for invasive procedures are
4.Disease transmission; paths of transmission including direct contact,
sterile at time of use where appropriate
aerosols and penetrating injuries, risk of acquisition, sources of
-consistently follow the procedure for washing and drying hands
infecting microorganisms including persons who are carriers, in the
-consistently limit contamination
incubation phase of the disease or those who are acutely ill
-consistently maintain clean surfaces and manage blood and body
5.Effective hand hygiene; procedures for routine and surgical hand
fluid spills
wash, when hands must be washed
-consistently protect materials, equipment and instruments from
6.Good personal hygiene practice including hand care
contamination until required for use
7. Identification and management of infectious risks in the workplace
-consistently put into practice clean and sterile techniques
8.Organisation requirements relating to immunisation, where
-consistently use personal protective equipment
applicable
5.Apply additional precautions when standard precautions are not
9.Personal protective equipment; guidelines for glove use, wearing
sufficient
gowns and waterproof aprons, wearing masks as required, wearing
6.Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation,
protective glasses
environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues
10.Standard precautions
11.Susceptible hosts including persons who are immune suppressed,
have chronic diseases such as diabetes and the very young and old
12.Surface cleaning; procedures at the start and end of the day,
managing a blood or body fluid spill, routine surface cleaning
13.Sharps handling and disposal techniques
14.The organisation’s infection control policies and procedures
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HLTCOM405D Administer a practice
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide administration for a clinical health
practice according to the size and scale of the business. This unit contains employability skills.
Application of the unit.
This unit applies to work in a range of health settings where health services are provided with direct client contact
involved. Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any specific workplace requirements, issues and
practices.
Performance criteria covered within this training programme
1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,2.1,2.2,2.3,3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5,4.1,4.2,4.3
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HLTCOM405D Administer a practice
Elements and performance criteria standards
Each element stipulates the skills and knowledge you will achieve when you correctly complete each of the evaluative
statements listed in the performance criteria. Throughout this learning material you will be participating in performing
the criteria tasks to achieve the required skills and knowledge in order to be deemed competent in this unit.
ELEMENT
1. Establish and maintain
administrative systems
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1.1. Identify and perform routine tasks
1.2. Ensure policies and procedures are followed
1.3. Use resources appropriately
1.4. Establish administrative systems
2. Conduct financial administration 2.1. Administer financial procedures of the business
2.2. Maintain systems for financial documentation
2.3. Record information for financial reports
3. Follow practice management
3.1. Follow operational strategies
strategies
3.2. Follow marketing strategies
3.3. Attend meetings
3.4. Monitor stock levels and supplies
3.5. Comply with statutory and regulatory requirements
4. Administer personnel
4.1. Follow human resource strategies
management strategies
4.2. Administer payroll and employee records
4.3. Follow diversity guidelines
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SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
1.Accurately record financial transactions
2.Apply time management skills
3.Establish and maintain administrative systems
4.Follow clinic practice guidelines
5.Give and receive communication messages
6.Maintain payroll records
7.Promote, implement and manage work attitudes and practices that
reflect awareness of the importance of a range of aspects of sustainability
8.Securely manage monies
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
1.Appropriate practices to ensure efficient use of power and
other resources
2.Business systems
3.Clinic practices and procedures
4.Financial recording systems
5.Forms and administrative systems
6.Legal rights and responsibilities
7.Operational factors relating to the business(provision of
professional services, products)
8.Planning and control systems (sales, advertising and
promotions, distribution and logistics)
9.Record keeping duties
10.Services available and charges
11.Stock control methods and procedures
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Definition of massage and the massage system of treatment
Massage therapy involves the manipulation of soft body tissues with pressure, tension, motion or vibration. In addition
to various parts of the body, massage can be performed with the aid of mechanical aids, oils and lotions.
Massage involves acting on the client's body with pressure, tension, motion or vibration done manually or with
mechanical aids. The tissues targeted may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints or other connective tissue,
as well as lymphatic vessels and organs. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm and feet.
During a massage, the therapist applies massage oil to the body and uses kneading and circular movements in
combination with long, smooth strokes.
Massage principles and philosophy.
Massage has a somatospsychic effect. Somatopsychic is the interrelationship of body and mind. Psychosomatic refers to
the mind's effect on the body. Massage therapy helps restore healthy structure and function, allowing better
circulation, greater ease of movement, wider range of movement, more flexibility and the release of chronic patterns of
tension.
Massage effects;
Circulation of Blood - improved blood circulation is beneficial for relieving tension in the muscles and other soft tissues.
Movement of Lymphatic Fluid - improved circulation of lymphatic fluid for ridding the body of wastes, toxins and
pathogens. The lymph system also benefits from massage, particularly in conditions where lymphatic flow is impaired
by injury or surgery.
Release of Toxins – improving the movement of toxins through the body’s normal pathways of release and elimination.
Release of Tension - allowing greater relaxation having important physiological and psychological benefits. The result is
a reduction of stress.
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Brief history of massage
Massage is probably the oldest and simplest form of health care. It is depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings and
mentioned in ancient Chinese, Japanese and Indian texts. It is thought to have originated in the East as a method for
unblocking the chi, the vital energy flowing through our bodies, that tends to get trapped due to emotional and physical
upset. The word "massage“ in French means "friction,” from Arabic massa means "to touch, feel or handle“ and from
Latin massa meaning "mass, dough". Massage or manual bodywork comes under the category of complimentary or
allied health in Australia.
India - according to Hindu Tantra the Kundalini or life force originates at the base of the spine and is part of the
interaction of cosmic forces of female and male energy.
Greece - ancient Greek physicians commonly prescribed massage as a remedy in conjunction with poultices, tonics,
fresh air and a corrective diet. Hippocrates recognised the benefits of massage for treating a wide range of ailments. His
belief was that disease was caused naturally and so should be treated naturally.
Rome - the Romans were known to rub sore and tired muscles with warm oil after bathing and before enjoying a full
body massage to stimulate the nervous system and ease the action of their joints.
China - the Chinese are thought to have initiated the first formal examinations in massage. Medical students were
examined in acupuncture, massage and treatment of disease.
Swedish Massage was originally developed in the late 18th century by a Swedish fencing master as the first systematic
system of therapeutic massage in the west. This massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the
tissue of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. It improves circulation and stretches the ligaments and
tendons, keeping them supple and young. It also stimulates the skin and nervous system reducing stress, both
emotional and physical. It also has specific clinical uses in medical or remedial therapy.
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Massage philosophy
Effects of massage on body systems.
•Physical – directly affects parts of the body being treated such as the skin and sensory nerve endings.
•Physiological – directly effects the body’s own response such as warming the tissues which dilates capillaries and
increases blood flow.
•Psychological – creates a feeling of relaxation.
•Cells - massage improves circulation, increases the supply of essential nutrients to the cells and prevents the build-up
of waste material.
•Skeletal system – massage increases the flow of nutrients to the bones and reduces muscular tension that can cause
structural problems.
•Muscular tissue – massage increases the flow of blood to the muscle tissue and can relieve muscle tension.
•Circulatory system – massage improves blood circulation and relieves congestion by increasing oxygen and nutrient
supply to the cells.
•Nervous system – massage can be used with aromatic plant oils to relax the nerves.
•Respiratory system – massage can improve breathing patterns by relaxing the body.
•Digestive system – massage can push out waste products for those who suffer from constipation.
•Urinary system – massage can assist with the elimination of built up fluids, seen as swelling in the body.
•Skin – massage increases secretions from the sebaceous and sudoriferous glands. It also aids with the shedding of skin
cells and improves the colour of the skin.
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Major methods of treatment used in massage
Swedish - This type of massage is beneficial to promote the feeling of well-being and also helps to reduce emotional
and physical stress.
Aromatherapy massage – concentrates on relaxing strokes, but of prime importance is the selection of essential oils
used during the massage chosen for their therapeutic effect.
Neuromuscular massage - forms the basis of aromatherapy massage. It is also referred to as "Trigger point" therapy and
the overall effect of this massage is to restore the balance of the autonomic nervous system.
Lymphatic massage - helps to improve the flow of lymph and some techniques are incorporated in aromatherapy
massage. Lymph drainage massage is particularly useful in detoxifying the body and to boost the immune system.
Acupressure massage and Shiatsu - focuses on the meridians (channels) of the body and to relieve "blockages" through
pressure on certain points of the body.
Reflexology - used on feet hands and ears which are massaged and focus is placed on certain points known to have
corresponding body parts or organs.
The massage must be conducted in a way that is fitting and professional. Any method of massage treatment should be
preceded by a medical history consultation with the client. This assists the therapist in planning the treatment. It
highlights any crucial conditions that may need special attention during massage treatment or to refer to other
specialists if necessary. The massage therapist’s main role is assessment and treatment. There are some conditions that
cannot be improved with massage. It is important to explain the limitations of massage during client consultation.
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Massage assessment practice principles
•Always perform assessments in conjunction with appropriate and ongoing assessments.
•A definitive assessment may not always be possible due to the variety of musculoskeletal problems that may be
present. Refer clients to other health care practitioners if in doubt.
•Assessment should be conducted in a logical sequence commencing with client medical history. Assessment findings
allow the massage therapist to plan treatments with clients, monitor responses to treatments, adjust treatments and
review plans for treatment as required.
Method of assessments.
•Seek confirmation of client medical history.
•Identify client musculoskeletal conditions.
•Identify possible psychosocial factors that may appear as symptoms.
•Assess client’s functional limitations.
•Determine treatments and management of treatments.
•Discuss treatment opportunities with client.
•Monitor client’s responses allowing for adjustments.
•Record treatment results.
•Assess effectiveness of treatments.
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Definition of pain
Pain is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. Pain is a sensation of physical discomfort. The perception of pain is
the discomfort caused with a measure of its intensity. The various conscious and unconscious responses to both
sensation and perception, including the emotional response, define the overall concept of pain. Pain can occur from a
variety of situations. Injury is a major cause, but pain may also arise from an illness. It may accompany a psychological
condition, such as depression, or may even occur in the absence of a recognisable trigger.
Acute pain often results from tissue damage, such as a skin burn or broken bone. Acute pain can also be associated with
headaches or muscle cramps. This type of pain usually goes away as the injury heals or the cause of the pain is
removed. Pain-sensing neurons are called nociceptors. A stimulus of the nociceptor unleashes a cascade of
neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit information within the nervous system) in the spine.
General pain.
Nerve cells, or neurons, perform many functions in the body. Certain types of neurons are capable of transmitting a pain
signal to the brain. Pain-sensing neurons are called nociceptors, with almost every surface and organ of the body being
wired with them. The central part of these cells is located in the spine. They send threadlike projections to every part of
the body. Nociceptors are classified according to the stimulus that prompts them to transmit a pain signal.
•Thermoreceptive nociceptors are stimulated by temperatures that are potentially tissue damaging.
•Mechanoreceptive nociceptors respond to a pressure stimulus that may cause injury.
•Polymodal nociceptors are the most sensitive and can respond to temperature and pressure. They also respond to
chemicals released by the cells in the area from which the pain originates.
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Client history questions
•Occupation – current or past.
•Sports or hobbies – current or past.
•Referred to by;
•Client past illness or disease. Recent hospitalisation or major injury.
•Family history of major illness or disease.
•Pregnant or recent births.
•Current social habits – smoke, excessive drinking or use of recreational drugs.
•Current medication being taken.
•Known allergies.
CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR MASSAGE TREATMENT
CLIENT MEDICAL HISTORY
Client’s name:
Date:
I understand that the service provided by ..................................................... (massage clinic) is not a substitute for
medical care and any information provided by the therapist is not diagnostically prescriptive in any way. I understand
that my personal information herein is to aid the therapist in providing a good service and is completely confidential.
Signed by client:
Massage therapist name:
Signed by massage therapist:
Date:
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Purpose of assessment questions
Questions a massage therapist needs to ask should be designed to distinguish the levels of pain, whether it be pain of a
local origin or pain referred from another part of the body.
Nature of pain.
FORMATIVE TASK 1. CONDUCT CLIENT CONSULTATIONS –
•Local pain.
VIDEO RECORD YOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS
- usually sharp shooting pain.
Using the client interview document that you created in Book 1, you
- usually at a specific area.
are to conduct three client consultation sessions. You will be
•Referred pain.
demonstrating your skills and knowledge required for conducting
- dull ache.
comprehensive client consultations. Submit your videos to your
- general area.
trainer for comment.
•Burning pain.
- usually from trauma to sympathetic and somatic sensory nerves.
Questions to ask client.
•Location of pain.
•Is the pain from a physical injury?
•Type of pain.
•Intenseness of pain on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being extreme pain.
•The onset of pain. What the client was doing when the pain started? Were they active, inactive or stressed? Does the
client believe that activity prompted the pain and whether the onset was sudden, gradual or part of an ongoing chronic
problem?
•The duration of pain? Is the pain frequent, intermittent, constant or episodic?
•What aggravates the pain and what relieves the pain?
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Professional complementary health care
Chiropractic treatments - analysis of the skeletal structure and muscles for joint dysfunction and use pressure and
client’s body position to make joint adjustments.
Acupuncture - involves the stimulation of points on the body using a needles to penetrate the skin that are then
manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.
Herbal remedies and homeopathy - uses the medicinal properties of plants, fungi and herbs to create medicines for
treating ailments.
Naturopathy - uses a wide variety of therapies, including hydrotherapy, heat, massage and herbal medicine to treat and
stimulate the person's own body to heal itself.
Osteopathy - places emphasis on the musculoskeletal system with the name osteo referring to bone and path refers to
disease.
Physiotherapy treatments - assists the rehabilitation process by developing and restoring body systems, in particular
the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. They devise treatment programmes,
comprising manual therapy, movement, therapeutic exercise.
Myotherapy - application of pressure at trigger points. The relief of tension in the muscle followed by stretching
promotes healing.
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Informed consent
This is providing clients with information that they need in order to make a decision as to whether they will have the
massage treatment. You need to explain;
•The massage procedure to the client.
•Length of time the treatment will take.
•Proposed benefits of the treatment.
•Common side affects or risks.
•Cost of treatment.
Allow time for the client to ask questions.
Valid consent.
Client’s consent to a massage treatment must take place prior to the commencement of treatment. There are four
elements to the consent.
1. It must be given freely and voluntarily.
2. Client must understand the treatment process that the therapist will be undertaking.
3. Client is legally capable of giving the consent.
4. The consent may be implied, given verbally or in a written form.
Minors under the age of 16 must have parental or guardianship consent prior to the massage.
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Client privacy and personal security rights must be protected
Massage should be conducted in a secure and private area where the client has the ability to undress and dress in
private. The therapist must ask the client to lie on the table and cover themselves with the appropriate towel or cover
prior to the therapist entering the room. The therapist must have advised the client on what clothing should be left on.
During the massage, towels or coverings should be used to cover any part of the body not directly receiving treatment.
Health guidelines for personal care & body art industries.
These guidelines help businesses comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 by providing
information on infection control. The guidelines are designed around a risk management approach. Industry-specific
requirements - Physical therapies (massage, solaria, saunas, flotation tanks, spas and pools, gymnasium equipment and
alternative therapies)
It is important that clients are aware of the workplace policies and procedures for safety whilst they are within the
premises. The code of conduct directs the behaviour of both the client and staff in a mutually dignified and respectful
manner. It is valuable because it communicates to the spa client that they are important and empowers staff to evoke
the highest level of service. It provides clear and compassionate communication. Communicate code of conduct to
clients through – notices in dressing rooms, on spa brochures and through instructions from the therapist. Communicate
code of conduct to staff through - notices in staff room, orientation and training sessions and policy and procedure
manuals.
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FORMATIVE CHECKPOINT
Before you can proceed with any further learning or tasks you need to submit
formative task 1 to your trainer.
Your trainer will contact you to discuss your submission. They will provide;
•Comments that will allow you to improve your submission.
•Questions to gain a better understanding of your knowledge of the subject.
•General guidance so that you can improve your skills and knowledge.
•Encouragement to expand your thinking towards better solutions.
You are to make the necessary changes as instructed by your trainer and submit the documents for re-evaluation by
your trainer.
ASSESSMENT A. KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS 1.
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28
Legislation requirements
•Relevant federal, state and local health and hygiene legislation and regulations.
•Efficient use of energy, water and other resources to reduce negative environmental impacts.
Relevant organisations within the massage industry there is Australian Association of Massage Therapist (AAMT),
Association of Massage Therapies (AMT), Massage Association of Australian (MAA) and the Australian Natural Therapist
Association (ANTA). These associations are for those who perform therapeutic massage and administers body treatments
for relaxation, health, fitness and remedial purposes. Keep up to date with health issues by contacting the industry
associations and health funds. The website PrivateHealth.gov.au provides information on private health insurance and a
list of Australian Health Funds. The website for the Department of Health provides health information for massage
clients.
Massage Code of Ethics.
The code of ethics listed below has been developed as a statement about appropriate and expected standards of
professional conduct of AAMT (Australian Association of Massage Therapist) members and as such reflects the values of
the Association. This Code describes the professional conduct expected of members to preserve and enhance their
professional reputation as well as the general reputation of the massage industry in Australia.
Adherence to this Code involves a commitment to 5 principles.
1. The primary factor in all treatment decisions is the client/patient’s well-being.
2. Maintain Client/Patient/Therapist confidentiality.
3. Treat the client/patient according to competent application of accepted techniques and principles.
4. Maintain a commitment to the development of the industry/ profession.
5. Maintain a supportive professional attitude to our colleagues and the industry.
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Management operational functions
They may include;
•Hours of opening – trading hours – weekly time schedule – holidays taken into consideration.
•Out of hours – book keeping, purchase of stock etc.
•Equipment and products required. These include stock control of products for retail sales, product used in your services
and equipment needed to carry out your services.
•Occupational Health and Safety procedures including security of premises.
•Staff wages, incentives and entitlements.
•Management or owners role.
Operational function
Marketing
Production
Purchasing
Personnel
Financial
MANAGING OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Description of function
Management aim
Formulating a business offer to
To maximise sales
customers
Making products to sell
To maximise output
Acquiring physical supplies for
To obtain the best supply terms for desired
sale
quality
Employing people to be
To maximise labour productivity
productive
Measuring financial results of the To maximise profit and cash flow surpluses
operation
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Oganisational and operational activities within a massage clinic
A massage clinic is like any small business and needs to follow the principles of small business management.
These include;
•Marketing activities with clients and associated industries.
•Delivery standards of services.
•Record keeping of client services and stock control.
•OH&S policies including emergencies and security.
•Financial requirements.
•Human relations standards.
•Establishing an administrative system for the clinic.
An administrative system involves;
•Planning the direction of the clinic. These are the goals and objectives of the business.
•Organising the activities within the clinic and the responsibilities of those activities. This is called operations. It also
includes staff. Who will work within the clinic, what tasks they will perform and what timeframe will they work?
•Marketing and promotions for the business.
•Directing the operations of the business is a management role. This means controlling the overall running and financial
aspects of the clinic.
The daily activities conducted within the clinic may include;
•Making client appointments.
•Conducting client treatments.
•Recording and storing client treatment results.
•Marketing activities and associating with organisations and other practitioners.
•Clinic cleaning and maintenance.
•Organising clinic supplies.
•Financial transactions including point of sale transactions and record keeping.
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FORMATIVE TASK 2. CREATE A
RECORD OF THE DAILY ACTIVITIES
THAT OCCURED OVER A ONE WEEK
PERIOD OF WORK WITHIN YOUR
CLINIC. DOCUMENT
Submit your record to your trainer
for comments.
31
Marketing
Market research is a large part of the business plan. This process may involve the following;
•Observing and discussing client requirements.
•Recording and reviewing client requests, enquiries and client personal cards.
•Reviewing frequency of purchases of services and products.
•Talking to colleagues and sales representatives.
•Reading industry magazines and other publications.
•Sourcing suppliers of products for the industry.
•Collecting market research data from independent sources.
Marketing plan - definition of the marketing plan.
The marketing plan is a written document detailing marketing and financial objectives for each product and service and
recommending programs and strategies for achieving these objectives.
The marketing plan sets out programs and their costs and timing to guide the marketing activities of your business.
Market planning reflects short-term goals and the actual, specific details of the plan – that is the actual budgets and
marketing tactics that will be employed. Marketing funds should be allocated to business promotions, consumer
promotions or general advertising.
Marketing concept.
A marketing concept is the overall plan that the business will implement to attract customers. The customer is the main
focus. What does the customer want? What does the customer need?
Customer service.
Your customer service policy needs to be included as part of your marketing plan. Makes sure it is relevant to your
business goals and objectives.
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Profit margins
Understanding the basic concepts of costing and pricing is important in running a business. You need to know the
optimum price you can charge for the products or service to cover business overheads and make a profit without pricing
yourself out of the market. You need to consider what customers will pay and what your profit margin will be.
Your profit margin.
There are three different profit margin calculations you need to consider: direct costs margin, break-even pricing and
profit pricing.
1. Direct costs margin.
This is the amount that remains after paying the costs directly associated with the product or service being sold.
Obviously you would want to at least cover your direct costs to continue selling the product or service.
2. Break-even pricing.
The break-even analysis sets your overhead costs against how many production hours you will need to cover them. This
then determines how much you will need to charge for your product or service in order to cover those overheads. The
break-even analysis provides a strong indication of whether your business will make a profit or not.
3. Profit pricing.
This is the price at which you’ll finally make a profit. If you can sell your products and services at this price, and still be
competitive, you’ve got a business. If you can’t, you can lower your direct costs, fixed costs or desired profit, or sell
something else that offers better margins.
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Target profit margins
This is the amount of profit you want to earn above the hourly expenses and the seat time costs.
It is generally considered that a business should follow these principles;
•Product cost should be no more than 15% of sales forecast.
•Wages and fixed costs together should be no more than 50% of sales forecast.
•The balance should cover variable costs and profits to be made.
In economics, fixed costs are business expenses that are not dependent on the activities of the business. They tend to
be time-related, such as salaries or rents being paid per month. In management accounting, fixed costs are defined
as expenses that do not change in proportion to the activity of a business. For example, paying rent and utility bills
irrespective of the number of sales made.
Variable costs are volume-related and are affected by sales and purchases the business makes. Total costs for running
the business is the fixed costs plus variable costs added together.
Time and cost.
The costs of services charged to clients differs. The price charged to deliver the treatment depends on the operators
skills, the facilities and equipment available and the client’s requirements.
Clients will ask;
•How long will it take?
•How much will it cost?
Workplace policies for processing payments
To process payments for a customer you need to know the cost of the service they had, plus any products purchased
and how the customers wants to pay the amount owed. You must be accurate when determining the cost to save
embarrassing situations.
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Human resource planning
Human resource planning is about;
•Trying to get a lot of different people to work successfully towards shared outcomes.
•Harnessing all the resources of a business or team in order to attain shared goals.
•Monitoring progress towards these goals.
•Managing variations from the goals and the plans to ensure that each goal is achieved.
Developing a staffing policy.
Every business should have a staffing policy. This document should detail how the business will attract and retain staff. It
should include;
•Employee award details.
•Staffing roster and absenteeism policy.
•Performance appraisal goals and rewards policy.
•Strategies for training and personal development for employees.
•Strategies for resolving interpersonal employee conflict and industrial disputes.
•Strategies for administering staff discipline and dismissal procedures.
Employment award.
Most businesses are covered by a modern award. Modern awards commenced on 1 January 2010 and are industry or
occupation-based employment standards that operate in conjunction with the Fair Work Act 2009. They were created
to establish one set of minimum conditions for employers and employees across Australia who work in the same
industries and occupations. The award does not need to list individual businesses.
There is also a Miscellaneous Award 2010 which covers employees who are not covered by another modern award and
who perform work of a similar nature to that which has historically been regulated by awards. It is likely that new and
innovative jobs which are developed over time will not fall neatly into existing industry awards, so it is possible that the
Miscellaneous Award will cover some of those employees.
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Employment categories
An employee usually;
•Receives payment as wages or salary.
•Have their tax taken out by their employer.
•Is based at the business, work from their home or are mobile; for example a sales representative.
•Can be full-time, part-time, apprentice, trainees or causal.
Permanent employment can be full time or part time.
•A full-time worker can work a standard day (9am to 5pm - 8am to 4pm).
•A part-time employee works regular set hours but less than a full-time week (Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm) or parts of
weeks (Monday to Wednesday) or even parts of a month.
•Full time and part time employees are entitled to annual leave, personal leave (sick leave and carer’s leave) and are
entitled to be given notice if their employment is terminated.
Casual.
•Casual employees can be used for short irregular periods of work but can also work in long term arrangements.
•Can be asked to work at short notice and have no guarantee of regular set hours.
•Some awards require casuals to be paid for a minimum of three or four hours work depending on the award.
•Often casuals work irregular hours and don’t receive annual leave, personal leave or notice of termination. Instead,
casual employees are usually paid an extra loading, at least 20% or more depending on the award. This is on top of the
base rate of pay to compensate them for not receiving entitlements.
•Can be terminated with an hours notice unless they are covered by an agreement that specifies otherwise.
•Casual employment offers a flexible arrangement for the employer and employee.
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36
Fair Work Act 2009
The Fair Work Act 2009 commenced on 1 July 2009. New agreements under the Act are now called enterprise
agreements and are simply an agreement between one or more national system employers and their employees. Fair
Work Australia will use the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) to assess new enterprise agreements.
The major new features of enterprise agreements are that they must have;
- A nominal expiry date of not more than four years after the day on which FWA approves the agreement of a dispute
settlement procedure.
- A flexibility term so the employee and management can agree to vary the agreement to meet mutual needs. A
consultation term requires the employer to consult with their employees about any major workplace changes that are
likely to have a significant effect on them.
- If an enterprise agreement does not contain a flexibility or consultation term, the generic model clause prescribed by
the Fair Work Regulations will be 'deemed' to be included in that agreement and therefore must be followed.
Common law employment contracts, letters of offer or engagement.
Common law contracts are individual employment agreements between employees and employers, with legal
obligations for both sides. A contract consists of mutual promises made by two or more people, enforceable by law. In a
work context, the most obvious form these mutual promises take is the employee's promise to work in return for an
employer's promise to pay wages. Unlike awards and other formal workplace agreements, a common law contract may
be in writing, oral, or partly writing and oral. Common law employment contracts, as a minimum, must meet or exceed
each condition in an applicable award or agreement. The National Employment Standards (NES) also override any less
favourable terms in a common law contract. Common law contracts can be a short letter of offer or letter of
engagement. These summarise the new employee's pay and conditions, which they sign before they start work.
Fair Work Australia sets minimum wages and conditions Modern awards list the minimum rates for award-covered
employees.
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Equal Opportunity
Under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, employers have a positive duty to take reasonable and proportionate measures
to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation. A business needs to establish a policy and procedures
for complying with the Equal Opportunity Act. There are also benefits to having a workplace free from discrimination,
bullying, sexual harassment and victimisation. Workers are more likely to have better morale and be more productive if
they feel safe and supported. Staff turnover and recruitment costs are reduced, as are staff complaints, disruptions and
legal disputes.
This may include discrimination by;
•Age.
•Breastfeeding.
•Carer status.
•Disability.
•Employment activity.
•Gender identity.
•Industrial activity.
•Lawful sexual activity.
•Marital status.
•Parental status.
•Physical features.
•Political belief or activity.
•Pregnancy.
•Race -including colour, nationality, ethnicity and ethnic origin.
•Religious belief or activity.
•Sex and sexual orientation.
•Personal association with someone who has, or is assumed to have, any of these personal characteristics.
The Act covers discrimination in employment, education, accommodation, clubs, sport, goods and services, land sales
and transfers, local government as well as sexual harassment.
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General record keeping
The Fair Work Act 2009 requires employers to keep and maintain records of the dates and hours their employees work
and how much they're paid. It also requires you to give employees regular payslips with these details, as a hard copy or
in electronic form.
Good record keeping provides useful information to forecast future costs. Other records you're obliged to keep for
your employees include;
•Start and end date of employment or contract end date.
•The agreement that covers their employment e.g. award, workplace agreement, contract.
•Start and finish times of overtime hours worked for employees entitled to overtime penalty rates or loadings leave
accruals e.g. annual leave and personal leave.
•Superannuation fund and contribution details.
Superannuation.
The superannuation guarantee legislation requires employers to provide superannuation contributions for their
employees as a percentage of their base earnings. Employees can choose their own superannuation fund or retirement
savings account.
The payment is 9% for an employee who is paid at least $450 gross per month, paid into a superannuation fund or
retirement savings account at least every quarter. Records must be kept of all contributions made. A record of when and
how you reported superannuation contributions to the employees must be kept. You must also report in writing to your
employees the details of the contributions you've made to their superannuation funds at least once every quarter.
Under the Federal Superannuation Guarantee Act 1993, you don't pay superannuation to an employee if they are
paid a salary or wage of less than $450 in a month, or under 18 years of age and work less than 30 hours a week, or
aged 70 or over.
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39
Fringe benefits tax (FBT)
This is a tax paid on certain benefits employers provide to their employees or their employees' associates in place of, or
in addition to, salary or wages. FBT is separate from income tax and is based on the taxable value of the fringe benefit. A
benefit could be the use of something, e.g. the use of a car or discounted goods.
Payroll tax.
Each state within Australia has its own tax collection agency. The State Revenue Office (SRO) collects and administers
payroll tax. Employers must register for and pay payroll tax if their total Australian wages exceed the states general
exemption level.
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40
Stock control systems
A stock control system begins with a list of all the stock, those for use in salon services as well as retail stock sold to
clients. Separate the two so as not to be confusing. Stock management should be a regular task when operating a salon.
Creating a basic manual stock system for clinic use products.
This system should include the different product types, product sizes and colours. It should include a column noting the
minimum numbers of stock required and another noting the maximum numbers for the clinic to hold. Minimum
numbers prevent running out of stock while the maximum numbers prevent excessive holding of stock. Too much stock is
a drain on the cash flow of any small business.
This list should have a blank column for counting the stock. The stock system must have the date and time when the
count was conducted. The person who conducts the count should sign as well as a supervisor.
A basic manual stock system for retail stock.
This should include the different product types, product sizes and colours. It should contain minimum and maximum
stock amounts plus an actual stock count column. Include a column for the price charged for the retail products. When a
current list is compared with a previous list, it is easy to see what stock has been sold. This stock take requires signatures
of the person conducting the count as well as the supervisor.
If the business uses computerised stock control, it is linked in with the cash register. This system gives a print out report
on the stock on hand without the necessity of physical stock counts. This stock control allows you to see what is
happening on a daily basis however a physical count may need to take place to see if the stock levels are the same as
those on the printouts.
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41
FORMATIVE CHECKPOINT
Before you can proceed with any further learning or tasks you need to submit
formative tasks 2 and 3 to your trainer.
Your trainer will contact you to discuss your submission. They will provide;
•Comments that will allow you to improve your submission.
•Questions to gain a better understanding of your knowledge of the subject.
•General guidance so that you can improve your skills and knowledge.
•Encouragement to expand your thinking towards better solutions.
You are to make the necessary changes as instructed by your trainer and submit the documents for re-evaluation by
your trainer.
ASSESSMENT A. KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS 2.
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42
Role of OH&S Code of Practice
•Provides practical guidance.
•Should be followed, unless there is a better solution which achieves the same or better results.
•Is able to be used in support of the Act’s preventative enforcement provisions.
•Can be used to support prosecution.
It is the employer’s responsibility (as far as possible) to provide and maintain;
•The health and safety of themselves, their employees and members of the public.
•Safe work systems and equipment.
•First aid facilities and ensure at least one practitioner has a current first aid certificate.
•Equipment and substances safe handling, storage and transportation.
•Adequate space for conducting work activities.
•Information, training and supervision for employees.
•Protective clothing and equipment.
•An acceptable temperature in the workplace.
•Adequate ventilation in the workplace.
•Adequate washing and toilet facilities.
•Walkways that are free of obstructions.
•In the induction phase of staff employment, employees should be given training in OH&S issues.
For an employee to work safely, employers are required to provide;
•Information on any known hazards found to be in the workplace and business policies for carrying out safe work
procedures.
•Instruction and training in safe work procedures.
•Supervision in making sure their employees are not exposed to hazards.
•Regular checks to ensure health and safety instructions are followed.
•Adequate rest between client treatments to reduce levels of stress and fatigue to ensure ability to work safely and
sustainably.
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43
Health and safety policies and procedures
These may cover;
•Procedures for hazard assessment, selection and implementation of risk control measures.
•Procedures for hazard identification, incident and accident investigation.
•OH&S audits and safety inspections.
•Consultative arrangements for employees in work areas.
•Training staff in prevention methods for reducing the risk of personal injuries to themselves during the activities
conducted within the clinic.
•Hazard reporting procedures.
•Use and care of personal protective equipment.
Occupational health and safety.
•Emergency and evacuation procedures.
The purpose of Occupational
•Purchasing policy and procedures.
Health and Safety (OHS) is to
•Equipment maintenance and use.
identify and manage workplace
•Hazardous substances use and storage.
hazards to prevent disease,
•Dangerous goods transport and storage.
injury or death. A business in a
•OH&S arrangements for on-site contractors, visitors and members of the public.
workplace, is legally obligated to
•First aid provisions and medical practitioner contact and attention.
insure any employees and follow
•Waste management procedures.
work safety laws. WorkSafe in
your state provides advice and
Health and safety rules.
training on health and safety.
These focus on the behaviour required of an employee.
•Provide good housekeeping and good judgement.
•Refrain from poor work practices such as hurrying, taking shortcuts and misuse
of equipment.
•Using protective equipment correctly.
•No smoking, drinking or drugs on the job and no fooling around.
•Reporting accidents which includes near misses.
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44
Risk management
Responsibilities of clinic management.
•Provide written policies for the safe handling and disposal of sharps.
•Ensure staff have adequate rest times to reduce levels of stress and fatigue.
•Ensure staff can perform treatments sufficiently within allocated treatment timeframes.
•Ensure the availability of materials for adhering to the salon’s cough and sneezing hygiene policy.
•Ensure adequate supplies of personal protection equipment is available to staff.
•Provide staff with the opportunity to attend a first aid training course.
•Provide training in emergency response procedures for fire, hazardous substance spillage and slips, trips and falls.
•Provide regular meeting with staff to address OH&S procedures.
•Ensure adequate supplies of cleaning and sterilising materials are available.
•Reinforce the importance of hand washing and provide access to hand hygiene amenities in accordance with
regulations.
•Prepare a compliance standard document for following relevant Occupational Health and Safety directives.
•Document cleaning procedures and locate information in staff room where staff can follow instructions.
•Develop a cleaning roster and ensure cleaning equipment is of a high standard and in good working order.
•Ensure adequate linen and laundry supplies are available.
•Develop a waste management and disposal procedures document according to OH&S policies.
•Identify a secure area where contaminated waste can be stored for access only by authorised persons and that
incorporates infectious waste which is only accessible by authorised persons.
•Develop a monitoring system for determining the effectiveness of infection control procedures.
FORMATIVE TASK 4. PROVIDE A LIST OF OHS ISSUES THAT MAY RELATE TO WORK WITHIN A MASSAGE CLINIC.
DOCUMENT
Submit your document to your trainer for comment.
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45
Maintaining Occupational Health and Safety
There are three designated personnel an employee can report workplace health and safety issues to;
•Supervisors, managers and owners.
•Workplace representatives.
•Other personnel in control of workplace.
The best way to solve problems at work is to simply talk to each other and work out a constructive course of action.
Be sure that;
•Staff feel comfortable to talk to the manager or owner about the problems.
•Staff and management agree on ways to resolve the problem.
DEVELOP A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH
1.
2.
3.
4.
Systematic approach to risk control.
Is the workplace safe?
Identify hazards – any new hazards?
Assess risk – is the risk controlled?
Control risk.
Review.
Supporting the systematic approach risk control.
1. Regular inspections to ensure substances are being used and
stored as required by the risk assessment, whether control
measures are in place and working adequately.
2. Procedures for maintenance and checking the effectiveness of
controls.
3. Procedures for staying up to date with current knowledge and
information.
4. Procedures for emergencies and adequate first aid facilities.
Emergency phone numbers.
For ambulance, fire or police the number in Australia is OOO. Every emergency requires different actions. Another
emergency number is 112 which can be dialled from anywhere in the world with GSM coverage and this is
automatically translated to that country’s emergency number. People with a hearing or speech impairment can dial
106 from a phone line connected to a Teletypewriter or from a computer with a modem.
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46
Risks and hazards
Everyone in a business needs to work together to eliminate workplace hazards and find practical ways of protecting the
safety and health of everyone in the clinic.
A hazard is exposure to danger which can affect;
1. People; illness, injury, trauma or death.
2. Property; damage, wastage, contamination.
3. Processes; disruption to work processes.
A risk is the probability of someone being hurt or an accident happening through exposure to the hazard.
Risk assessment.
After a hazard has been identified the next step is to assess the risk. Assessing the risk is a simple process which
considers the number of people at work.
•Is the risk minor and unlikely to occur?
•Is the risk minor but will occur frequently?
•Is the risk great? If so, the solution might be to change work arrangements.
When assessing a risk you need to consider the;
•Nature of the hazard.
•Severity of the hazard and any health effects that may occur.
•Duration and how often a person may be exposed to the hazard.
•Probability that risk will occur.
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47
Risk assessment
How to do a risk assessment
Methods for conducting a risk assessment.
•Talking to people and testing the chemicals and equipment
before use.
•Reading labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
•Consulting workplace injury records.
•Checking equipment and the work area before starting work.
Ways of identifying hazards in the workplace.
•The job to be done and the number of people at risk.
•The length of exposure to the hazard.
•Possible injuries that may occur.
Risk management planning programme.
•Identify the risks.
•Analyse the risks.
•Prioritise the risks.
•Treat the risks by action to reduce or eliminate them.
•Review and monitor these actions.
•Possible injuries that may occur.
Record keeping and reviews.
•Outcomes of risk assessments must be documented.
•Records must be kept while the assessment is still relevant.
•Records must be accessible to employees.
Assessments must be reviewed and revised.
•At least every five years or when circumstances change.
Book two
1.Identify the problem task.
Problem tasks are likely to be identified when;

Making a change – new tools or process

There are indications that something may be wrong
– staff complain of discomfort

After an incident
A risk assessment is then conducted on the problem task
2. Assess the risk.
When assessing the problem task make sure that you
look at all of the tasks elements of the activity as different
risks may occur within the one task
Make a note of the risks you have identified in the task
3. Control the risk.
Consider the individual and combination of risk factors,
and determine which ones need controlling. Design
controls (physical changes) are better than administrative
controls (training)
4. Implement the controls.
Determine a control plan. A combination of long term
design and short terms administrative controls may be
required
5. Review the controls.
Regularly check the solutions to determine if they are
working, being applied correctly and not causing other
risks
48
Theft
Having products, money or any items stolen from the clinic can be very costly besides being upsetting. Even though
you think you are careful, there are procedures you need to implement to make it difficult for any items to be stolen
from your business.
Items that get stolen are;
•Keys.
•Display stock and retail stock.
•Display advertising material.
•Furniture and reading material.
•Cash, EFTPOS and cash registers.
•Personal items.
•Products used in treatments.
•Equipment.
It is not only armed robbers that steal. Staff, customers, visitors, trades people and sales representatives may also be
likely to steal if given the opportunity.
Theft can occur;
•While you are working on a client.
•While clients are waiting.
•Whilst you are out of the clinic.
•Armed robbery night and day.
CALL THE POLICE: 000
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Cash management procedures
Ensure staff safety when handling cash.
•Train staff in cash management procedures, what to do if people behave suspiciously and how to react during a
robbery.
•Locate the point of sale area away from entrances and exits.
•Use an audible device that indicates when the cash drawer is opened.
•Open the cash drawer only when a customer is paying for merchandise, and close it before merchandise is packaged.
•Where possible, lock the cash drawer and remove the key when it is not in use.
•Ensure that the cash drawer is empty when the workplace is unattended.
•Transfer excess money frequently but randomly from the cash drawer into a locked safe. Do this during a low risk time
and in a way that is not obvious to customers.
•Lock the safe at all times when it is not in use and locate it in a place that is not obvious to customers.
•Regularly change the combination to the safe and have a limited number of keys.
•Install a safe with time delay locks or two key opening systems.
•Count cash in a secure room.
•Encourage cashless purchasing such as credit cards and EFTPOS.
•Pay staff with cheque or direct deposits.
•Display a sign advertising the security measures in place or advising that cash is not kept on the premises.
•Assign the banking to more than one person and rotate the task. Ensure that other staff have an estimated time the
person should return so that an alarm can be raised if necessary.
•Use a bank close to the workplace and deposit money several times a day.
•Do not advertise the fact that you are going to the bank with cash such as carrying a marked money bag or wearing a
branded workplace uniform. If walking to the bank, keep to busy streets, not deserted streets.
•If driving to the bank keep the car doors locked at all times, vary the route regularly and do not leave the vehicle
whilst on route.
•If ordering a taxi to go to the bank, ask the operator to advise the number of the assigned taxi.
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Duty of care
There are 6 responsibilities a business owner needs to implement in order to fulfil their duty of care.
1. Fixtures and Fittings.
2. Flooring.
3. Ventilation.
4. Personal protective equipment - PPE
5. Storage of chemicals – SDS.
6. Equipment in good working order.
Induction and training in Occupational Health and Safety should take account of;
•Employees existing knowledge and expertise.
•Language and literacy levels.
•Adult learning principles.
•Needs of people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
During staff training session supervisors should use this time as an opportunity;
•To discuss potential hazards with staff.
•Apply reviews of risks in the workplace.
•Discuss potential product ingredient risks.
OH&S issues raised during a training session need to be attended to promptly
and reported back to staff with guidance on what corrective action needs to be taken.
Safety signs.
Worksafe Australia state
that safety signs are
designed to prevent
accidents, signify health
hazards, indicate the
location of safety and
fire protection
equipment, or for giving
guidance and instruction
in an emergency.
There are 3 barriers to effective communication.
•Language and terminology.
•Understanding.
•Poor attitude to work.
All clinic managers should keep records of the date, time and issues taught in the training session.
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First aid in the workplace
Role of first aid officer.
1. Dispense and control items from first aid cabinet.
2. Ensure cabinet supplies are adequate.
3. Treat minor wounds and injuries, such as applying dressings, stopping bleeding and treating burns.
4. Deal with fits or fainting.
5. Resuscitation.
6. Recording accident/injury details in the accident book.
7. Arranging further assistance or advice from clinical experts such as ambulance officer, paramedic or qualified health
care professional.
8. Advise management immediately of any serious or potentially serious injury where first aid treatment was given.
It is the employer’s responsibility to;
1. Provide first aid facilities and provide first aid training to staff.
2. Select, locate and maintain first aid facilities.
First aid kits vary according to their particular use.
A basic first aid kit should contain;
•Triangular bandages.
•Crepe ('conforming' or elastic) bandages of varying widths.
•Non-adhesive dressings, varying sizes.
•Disposable gloves (medium and large), preferably non-latex ones.
•Thermal blanket.
•Notepad and pencil.
•Plastic bags, varying sizes.
•Adhesive tape (2.5cm wide – preferably a permeable tape).
•Resuscitation mask or face shield.
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Medicines in first aid kits.
It is recommended that medicines are not kept
in a first aid kit for workplaces because of the
risk of allergic reaction. First aid is defined as the
provision of emergency treatment and life
support for people suffering injury or illness. The
dispensing of medication would generally not
fall within this definition.
If medicines are kept, awareness of dosage and
potential side effects is necessary. Check expiry
dates.
52
Sharps
A sharp is any object capable of inflicting a penetrating injury. The potential for transmission of blood borne viruses is
greatest when sharp instruments are used. Non reusable sharps must be carefully handled and disposed of into a
puncture resistant container immediately following use.
All sharps containers must;
•Be puncture resistant, waterproof and leak-proof and have an opening that is wide enough to allow the sharps to be
dropped into the specified container without risk of puncture.
•Be clearly labelled with black lettering on yellow background with the “biohazard” symbol printed on the container.
•Remain upright at all times and never be overfilled.
•Securely sealed with a lid before disposal.
•Resistant to leakage, impact rupture and corrosion.
Sharps containers must be placed as close as practical to the immediate area where sharps are
being used. They must also be placed so unauthorised persons can not have access to the
container. The container must be of a large enough size to accommodate the type of sharp
and sharps must never be forced into the container.
Needle stick injury.
If a needle stick injury occurs squeeze the injury site to encourage bleeding. Wash the site
with soap and water and notify management or a medical doctor. Compile a report on
how the incident happened.
Sharps container
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Reporting
First aiders should always make notes or fill out a casualty report on any event attended, no matter how minor. In
your workplace you may have reporting obligations under your State or Territory OH&S legislation. Records may be
used in a court, so ensure that the reports are legible, accurate and factual, containing all relevant information and
are based on observations not opinions.
Recording accidents and incidents.
Legislation requires that records must be kept on all work injuries, work-related illnesses or dangerous occurrences
that happen in the workplace. If the injury causes death or hospitalisation, the Division of Workplace Health and
Safety must be notified.
Reporting guidelines.
•Use ink only.
•Any correction should be crossed out with a single line and initialled. Do not use correction fluid to correct mistakes.
•Sign and date the record.
•The information should be kept confidential and should only be accessed by authorised people in your workplace,
State or Territory.
•In a workplace incident, a copy should go to the authorised employer representative for auditing and OH&S
monitoring purposes.
Psychological impacts on first aiders involved in incidents. De-stressing strategies can include;
•Seek counselling with qualified persons.
•Writing down your feelings about the incident and talking with a friend or colleague about how it felt to be involved.
• Participating in physical activities, listening to a relaxation tape or going for a bushwalk, sitting near the water or in
the bush.
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Documenting your treatment
The accurate recording of injury or illness is also of great assistance to any medical personnel who take over your
casualty’s treatment, such as ambulance officers.
The report needs to contain information about the person suffering the casualty.
•The date and time of incident.
•Brief personal details – name, address, date of birth.
Cleaning up after an incident.
•History of the illness or injury.
You need to;
•Observations – signs, symptoms and vital signs.
•Clean up the area where the incident took
•The first aider’s assessment of the injury or illness.
place.
•Signature of first aider.
•Clean up any equipment used.
•The date of report.
•Restock first aid kit by replacing items used
•Print name and title of first aider.
and looking for any soiled unopened items that
need to be replaced.
Copies of the report should be given to;
•Complete required documentation and
•The person taking over. A copy of the report should go with the
securely file it.
ambulance to the hospital or medical facility.
• Have a rest and evaluate your performance
•The casualty and the first aiders need to keep a copy as a record
throughout the emergency.
which should be kept in a secure place.
•Participate in discussions with persons in
authority for ways of improving the first aid
Rest and reassurance.
management plan.
One on the most valuable actions you can do in a emergency
situation is to give rest and reassurance to the person needing
help. This requires you to comfort and reassure the casualty
which in some cases may be all that is needed.
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Infection in the workplace
An infectious disease is caused by germs that are passed on from one person to another by breathing in, contact or
eating. Bacteria, fungi, virus or animal parasites can also cause infections.
Disinfection and infection control.
A business owner is responsible for preventing the spread of infection by ensuring careful cleaning and disinfecting
procedures are conducted within the business premises. Poor housekeeping can contribute to infections from
unsanitary items. The Act outlines the sterilisation and disinfection control procedures, which must be carried out to
prevent the spread of disease.
Infection control risk management is a systematic approach towards identifying, managing and minimising exposure to
sources of infection risks in the health organisation. Sterilisation is the destruction of all living organisms, including
spores.
Decontamination is a process that renders equipment, or environmental surfaces safe to handle by cleaning and
disinfection or sterilisation, destroying pathogenic and other kinds of micro-organisms by thermal or chemical means.
Disinfection is less lethal than sterilisation, because it destroys the majority of recognised pathogenic microorganisms, but not necessarily all microbial forms (eg bacterial spores). Disinfection does not ensure the degree of
safety associated with sterilisation processes.
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Factors influencing infections
In a clinic the most common susceptible hosts are clients and practitioners. The main modes of transmission of
infectious agents is contact through blood, droplets and airborne bacteria. The modes of transmission vary by type of
organism. In some cases the same organism may be transmitted by more than one route. Transmission of infection can
also occur from common sources such as contaminated food, water, medications and equipment.
Infection through contact.
Some infections can be spread directly by skin-to-skin contact
or indirectly by contact with contaminated surfaces like
clothing and equipment. Contact is the most common mode
of transmission and usually involves transmission by touch or
via contact with blood or body substances. Contact infection
may be direct or indirect.
•Direct transmission occurs when infectious agents are
transferred from one person to another. This could be a
client’s blood entering a beauty practitioner’s body through
an unprotected cut in the skin.
•Indirect transmission involves the transfer of an infectious
agent through a contaminated intermediate object or person.
This could be a beauty practitioner’s hands transmitting
infectious agents after touching an infected body site on one
client and not performing hand hygiene before touching
another client.
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Droplet transmission
Droplet transmission can occur when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Droplets larger than 5 microns in size
are infectious. Diseases with respiratory tract symptoms such as runny nose, cough, sore throat are spread by droplets
containing viruses or bacteria or by surfaces contaminated with nose and throat discharges. These large droplets travel
less than one metre before falling to the ground and do not remain suspended in the air. Before falling to the ground,
droplets may be deposited on the mucous membranes of the eye, nose or mouth of another person which pass on the
disease. Droplets can also be transmitted indirectly through the hands.
Airborne transmission.
Airborne transmission may occur through infectious particles arising from sneezing, talking, coughing and breathing
that remain infective over time and distance and in conditions of low humidity. Aerosols containing infectious agents
can be dispersed over long distances by air currents including ventilation or air conditioning and then inhaled by
susceptible individuals who have not had any contact with the infectious person. These small particles can transmit
infection into small airways of the respiratory tract.
Standard precautions must apply to all clients receiving treatments in a clinic.
They include contact with;
•Blood being fresh and dried.
•Body substances, secretions and excretions (excluding sweat), regardless of whether or not they contain visible blood.
•Open cuts and sores.
•Mucous membranes including eyes.
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Australian standards for detergents
The Australian standards AS 4815-2001 & AS 4187-2003 recommends the use of mild alkaline detergents (pH 8.0-10.8)
for cleaning. Alkaline detergents are recommended because they clean better than neutral or acidic detergents.
•Surfaces: Alkaline detergents help keep soil particles suspended in the cleaning solution, this prevents “clumping” and
re-deposition of soil onto the cleaned surface.
•Fatty Acids: Alkaline detergents converts insoluble fatty acids into their more soluble salts making them easier to wash
away.
•Proteins: Alkaline detergents helps to increase the solubility of proteins.
•Hard Water: Alkaline detergents help remove calcium and magnesium (to soften the water) which improves the
performance of surfactants in the detergent.
•Metal: Alkaline detergents help prevent corrosion of metal. Some alkaline ingredients have anti-corrosion properties.
Corrosion of steel is at a minimum in mild alkaline solutions (pH 8.5-10) compared to neutral or mild acid solutions
where corrosion can be more significant.
The Australian register of therapeutic goods.
Only disinfectants and sterilants specified in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) may be used by
workers in the health care industry. They must only be used for the approved purpose. Although suppliers of
disinfectants or sterilants are not required to document a product’s listing on the ARTG on the product label, the TGA
issue a’ listing certificate’ or ‘registration certificate’ to product suppliers.
These certificates are valid unless they are;
•cancelled by the sponsor advising the TGA that they are no longer able to supply the listed disinfectants or sterilants.
•cancelled by the secretary of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Safety Data Sheets must be kept in areas where disinfectants and sterilants are stored. A clinic needs to check with their
local Occupational Health and Safety department for relevant requirements.
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Laundry practices
In the event of spills of blood the clinic practitioner must immediately;
•Wipe up the spill with disposable absorbent material.
•Place laundry items soaked with blood in a leak proof linen bag.
•Clean the spill site with a neutral detergent and water.
•Clean equipment immediately the spills occurs.
•Dispose of contaminated articles into the clinical waste bin.
Linen soiled with blood and body secretions must be handled and washed in a manner that prevents contamination and
transfer of micro-organisms to other clients, co workers and equipment.
Used and soiled linen should be handled as little as possible. Linen bags should not be overfilled and should be
emptied when three quarters full. Sharps and other objects must not be discarded into linen bags. Clean linen and used
linen must not be kept together.
Clean linen must be stored;
•In a clean dry place that prevents contamination by aerosols, dust, moisture and vermin.
•On clean shelves and, if necessary, wrapped in a protective covering.
•Separate from used linen.
•In a manner that allows for an even rotation of items.
FORMATIVE TASK 5. CREATE A POLICY DOCUMENT FOR MAINTAINING HYGIENIC CONDITIONS FOR EQUIPMENT
AND LAUNDRY USED IN YOUR CLINIC. DOCUMENT
Submit your document to your trainer for comment.
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Personal Protective Equipment (ppe)
Allergic reactions may vary from head to head and can happen after years of using the same product. It is the
responsibility of the employer to ensure that employees are provided with specific personal protective equipment.
These may include;
•Gloves.
•Clothing.
•Masks.
•Eye protection.
•Aprons.
•Footwear.
PPE should;
1. Meet the relevant Australian standard.
2. Be appropriate to its application.
3. Be issued to an individual, not shared.
4. Be properly, stored, cleaned and maintained.
Dispose of gloves
immediately into a bin
after use
Exposure to blood and body substances may be from;
•Direct contact, e.g. applying first aid to a bleeding client.
•Indirect contact, e.g. handling contaminated equipment.
•Blood or body substances do not have to be visible on an instrument for an infection to be transmitted.
When you are dealing with blood, gloves should be worn to avoid contamination. Any contaminated equipment must be
cleaned and disinfected. Disposing of waste materials, especially hazardous substances, through the sewage system has
a negative impact on local freshwater and marine ecosystems. All waste management should be as environmentally
friendly as possible. All waste products must be tipped into layers of old newspapers and wrapped up. This should then
be placed in the rubbish bin. Sharp instruments must be disposed of into the ‘sharps’ container.
Disposable gloves may cause a sensitivity to latex over a period of time. Latex is used extensively in the manufacture of
disposable gloves. Cornstarch powder is often used in latex to make them easier to put on. Latex proteins are absorbed
into the cornstarch powder. The powder then irritates the skin causing the allergic reaction. Latex sensitivity usually leads
to dry, raw skin. Severe reactions can result in sustained dermatitis with blisters. Employers should provide powder free,
low allergen gloves.
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Hand washing considerations
Jewellery.
Rings should either be removed or moved to ensure washing underneath them. Rings can make donning gloves more
difficult and may cause gloves to tear more readily.
Condition of fingernails.
Numerous studies have documented that there are high concentrations of microorganisms under fingernails. Nails
should be kept short, rounded and unvarnished. The routine use of nail brushes should be avoided. Hands, including
the nails, should be inflammation free. Do not wear artificial nails or extenders when treating clients and keep natural
nails less than ¼ inch long.
Drying hands. A variety of methods are used for drying hands.
•Paper towels are the best method to dry hands.
•Cloth towels could be used if appropriately recycled.
•Warm air dryers shorten the time for hands to dry, however, they can only be used by one person at a time and are
noisy. There is evidence that they may hold infection bacteria.
•Hand-drying materials should be placed near the sink in an area that will not become contaminated by splashing.
Soap. Plain (non-antimicrobial) soap comes in several forms.
•If bar soap is used, small bars that can be changed frequently are preferred.
•Soap should have drainage and should be kept on racks.
•Liquid soap containers should be cleaned when empty and refilled with fresh soap. Liquids should not be added to a
partially full dispenser.
Water. Always use running water and if running water is not available consider using;
•Containers with a tap that can be turned on and off.
•Containers and pitchers.
•Alcohol hand rubs.
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Procedures for washing hands
Steps for washing hands with soap and running water.
Step 1. Wet hands
with warm water
Step 2. Apply soap
directly onto hands,
fingers and wrists
Step 3. Rinse hands
with warm water
Wash application A.
Rub palm to palm
Wash application F.
Rub left and right
palm
Wash application B.
Rub right and left
back of hands
Wash application E.
Rub right and left
thumb
Wash application C.
Rub in between
fingers
Wash application D.
Rub back of fingers
Step 4. Dry hands
with a single use
towel
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Hand care
Frequent exposure of skin to soap and water can result in irritation and damage to skin causing irritant contact
dermatitis. Waterless alcohol hand antiseptics that contain emollients can improve skin condition with repeated use.
Antiseptic hand wash or alcohol based hand rub.
An antiseptic hand wash or alcohol based hand rub reduces the concentration of resident flora as well as inactivated
transient microorganisms from hands. Using alcohol alone tends to dry the skin so by adding 2 ml of glycerine,
propylene glycol or sorbitol to 100 ml of 60%-90% alcohol will reduce the drying of the skin. Minimal time required for
hand rub before rinsing is 2 minutes or according to manufacturers’ instructions.
Personal Protective Clothing.
Wearing of gowns.
Gowns should be appropriate for the treatment being undertaken. They should only be worn once for each client
treatment and taken off whilst still in the company of the client. This reduces the risk of contamination being spread
outside the treatment room.
Use of face mask.
A fluid-resistant face mask must be worn while performing any procedure where there is a likelihood of splashing or
splattering of body substances and whilst cleaning hazardous waste areas. A mask must be worn and fitted in
accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. It must not be touched by hands while worn and it must cover both
the mouth and nose. It must not be worn loosely or folded down around the neck. A mask must be discarded once it
has been worn or becomes visibly soiled or moist. It must not be used again. When a mask becomes moist it is no
longer effective. It should be removed by only touching the ties.
All people with signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection should;
•Cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue and dispose of the tissue into a rubbish bin.
•Wash hands after contact with nose and mouth secretions and contaminated objects.
•Wear a mask if coughing or sneezing.
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Reduce stress and fatigue
Working for long periods without sufficient rest may lead to soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries are those injuries
affecting the joints or muscles of injured, but not fractured limbs. Sprains, strains and dislocations are considered soft
tissue injuries. The treatment for these injuries is known as ‘RICE’.
•Rest - the injured part in rested immediately to reduce internal bleeding and swelling and to prevent the injury from
becoming worse.
•Ice - helps to limit inflammation and reduce pain.
•Compression - wrapping the injured part with elastic bandage helps limit swelling.
•Elevation - raising the injured part above the heart if applicable.
Symptoms of soft tissue injuries are;
•Sudden pain in the joint.
•Loss of power and ability to bear weight.
•Bruising.
•Swelling.
•Area becomes tender.
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Slips, trips and falls
An employer is required to identify foreseeable hazards, including the potential for people slipping, tripping or falling.
Accident investigations and slip-resistance measurements show that it is advisable to install non-slip flooring containing
abrasive grit (such as carborundum grit or aluminium oxide) in areas where high slip-resistance is advisable.
Potential causes of slips, trips and falls include;
•Slippery surfaces – surfaces that are wet, polished or oily.
•Surface texture of the floor is unsuitable.
•Footwear is not suitable and does not provide enough tread.
•Moving from one surface to another and changing floor levels.
•Equipment, tool trolleys and rubbish left in the way.
•Steps and ladders used incorrectly.
•Loose clothing caught on furniture or appliances.
•Lighting is not bright enough.
•Exposure to some chemicals substances.
• Being hit by a moving or falling object.
Reduce the risk.
1. Identify the hazards – inspect workplace, talk to staff, check incident records.
2. Assess the risks - are some hazards greater than others?
3. Take steps to control them - you must work to eliminate the risk altogether. If this can't be achieved, then work
towards reducing the risk.
Many accidents are the result of working in a cluttered, untidy workplace. Poor housekeeping can contribute to
incidents such as slips, trips and falls. Remember to keep a copy of your completed checklist for your records,
particularly if it shows a risk of injury.
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FORMATIVE TASK 6. A CLIENT HAS FALLEN WHILST VISTING YOUR CLINIC. DOCUMENT
You are to complete the slips, trips and falls checklist on this incident. Submit your document to your trainer for
comment.
SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS CHECKLIST
Type of incident:
Date:
Incident location:
REPORTNG OF INCIDENT
Problem identified:
Short term timetable to fix problem - immediately to within a few weeks
Action required to fix problem:
Medium term timetable to fix problem – within a few weeks to a few months
Action required to fix problem:
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Common workplace injuries
Work injury is an injury, occupational disease or work-connected disability which arises out of or in the course of
employment and which requires first-aid or medical treatment. Lost-time injury is a work injury which results in an
inability to work for at least one full day or shift any time after the day or shift on which the injury occurred. Soft tissue
injuries affect joints and muscles of the limbs and also include strains, sprains and dislocations.
Chemicals accidentally splashed in the eye.
Gently flush the eye with water from the nearest tap for approximately 20 mins. Do not attempt any other form of first
aid. All eye injuries must be seen immediately by a medical doctor.
Cuts.
Wear gloves to avoid contact with the blood. Apply pressure with a dry sterile dressing until bleeding has stopped.
Wash the area with cool water. If required, apply antiseptic and cover with a Band-Aid. Wash and disinfect any
bloodstained surfaces. If the cut is severe, seek medical assistance. Ensure that you cover cuts and abrasions on your
hands with waterproof dressing, changing as required, whilst working in the clinic.
Safe working in a confined space.
This standard provides guidance to eliminate or, where this is not practicable, minimise the need to enter confined
spaces. It provides for the health and safety of all persons who need to enter or work in confined spaces by preventing
exposure to hazards which may otherwise be experienced when working in a confined space and thereby prevent
collapse, injury, illness or death arising from exposure to those hazards.
Assessing a sick or injured person.
•Take the time to look at the scene for anything that may threaten your safety or the safety of those on or around the
scene.
•Look for the number of casualties involved.
•Assess the seriousness of the situation and call for medical assistance if required.
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General rules for chemical safety
•Follow safe work practices.
•Wear appropriate safety equipment, gloves etc.
•Don’t drink, eat, or smoke while working with hazardous substances.
•Wash your hands, face and other exposed areas with soap and water before eating and drinking.
•Don’t put substances into unwashed containers as a chemical reaction may occur.
•Don’t store incompatible substances together.
•Wipe up spilt chemicals immediately.
•Avoid chemicals coming into contact with the skin. Apply barrier cream to the skin.
•Wear dust masks if applicable.
•Wear safety glasses where there is a chance of chemicals splashing into eyes.
•Don’t wear contact lens in work areas as it is difficult to clean the eye if splashed with chemicals.
•Aprons have to be worn at all times.
•All chemicals and detergents have to be correctly labelled.
•All staff have to be trained in first aid and emergency procedures.
•All staff have to be able to speak English well enough to communicate effectively.
•A notice on hazardous substances safety rules should be placed in the staff room.
Training for people who use or may be exposed to hazardous substances must cover;
•Nature of the risk.
•The need for and proper use of safety measures.
•Hazard ID, risk assessment and control processes.
•First aid and emergency procedures.
•Reasons for monitoring and health surveillance.
•Employee’s rights and obligations.
•SDS’s and labels.
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Electrical Safety
Most accidents with electricity and electrical equipment can be avoided. Equipment checks take only a few minutes but
could ultimately save an accident from occurring. A person can get an electrical shock when they become part of an
electrical circuit and the current flows through their body.
Managers and owners are responsible for electrical safety.
1. No obvious external damage to connecting leads and plugs.
2. Outer covering of leads are not cut, frayed, worn or otherwise damaged.
3. Extension cords and power boards have no exposed wires.
4. Connection of the lead to the appliance is secure.
5. Appliances do not rattle, have a burning smell or make strange noises.
6. Power sockets are not cracked or broken.
7. Appliances are switched off at the power point before being pulled out.
8. Electrical cords are kept off the floor.
9. Restricting the number of appliances using the same power point.
Keeping records.
Employers must keep records of all unsafe situations, a fire hazard or any breakdown of equipment. A workplace
inspector will issue two items of information to the business owner/manager or the health and safety representative.
A. Report of findings. B. Notice of improvement.
Cleaning and disinfecting electrical tools.
•Check manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean the particular tool.
•Some tools may be cleaned and lubricated by using special disinfectant oils.
•Electrical equipment such can be disinfected using 70% alcohol or methylated spirits. Single use sachets of alcohol
wipes (70% ethyl alcohol or 60% isopropyl alcohol) can also be used.
•Store or cover all tools to prevent re-contamination.
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Definition of sustainability
Sustainability is the ability to maintain a certain status or process in existing systems. The most frequent use of the term
sustainability, is connected to biological or human systems in the context of ecology. The ability of an ecosystem to
function and maintain productivity for a prolonged period is also sustainability.
Sustainability in general refers to the property of being sustainable. The widely accepted definition of sustainability or
sustainable development was given by World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. It defined
sustainable development as "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs.“
Practically, sustainability refers to three broad themes, economic, social and environmental, that must all be
coordinated and addressed to ensure the long term viability of a community and the planet.
Every business must ensure that economic, social and environmental benefits are achieved. Each person, business and
industry has a role and a responsibility to ensure their individual and collective actions support the sustainability of the
community.
The primary goal of sustainability is using renewable natural resources in a manner that does not eliminate or degrade
them or otherwise diminish their usefulness for future generations.
Sustainable work practices;
•Safe disposal of all waste materials to minimise negative impact on the environment.
•Efficient use of energy, water and other resources used to minimise negative impact on the environment.
•Ensuring the practice of waste minimisation and recycling is conducted to reduce impact on the environment.
•Comparing availability of products, equipment and services and adjusting their use to minimise negative impact on the
environment.
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Reporting procedures for maintaining sustainability
It is necessary to establish a line of communication with supervising staff members in order to report the misuse of
sustainable work practices.
Your discussion topics may include;
•Purchasing procedures of stock.
•Equipment maintenance and use.
•Hazardous substances use and storage.
•Minimisation of power wastage.
•Minimisation of waste products and water wastage to reduce negative impact on environment.
FORMATIVE TASK 7. DEVELOP AN ORGANISATIONAL PLAN FOR CREATING A ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE
MASSAGE CLINIC. DOCUMENT
You are to create a document for combating the clinic’s impact on the environment. You need to identify the issues that
occur in the clinic that would be considered environmentally damaging and develop a policy for maintaining a
sustainable clinic environment.
Your document must contain;
•A list of the activities that are considered damaging and ways in which they can be made more environmentally friendly.
•A time frame containing commencement of improvement activities and completion date when all environmental
improvements have to be implemented by.
•The tasks and responsibilities of each of the team members must be noted.
•Steps for monitoring environmental standards within the salon.
You are to submit your document to your trainer for comment.
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Hand hygiene
Infection control risk
management
Monitor
Personal protective
equipment (PPE)
Sharp
Sharps container
Standard precautions
Sterile
Sterilisation
Ultrasonic cleaner
Washer-disinfector
General term that applies to hand washing, antimicrobial hand wash, antimicrobial hand rub,
or surgical hand antisepsis.
A systematic approach towards identifying, managing and minimising exposure to sources of
infection risks in the organisation.
To check, supervise, observe critically or record the progress of an activity, action or system
on a regular basis in order to identify change.
Refers to a variety of infection control barriers and respirators used alone, or in combination,
to protect mucous membranes, skin and clothing from contact with recognised and
unrecognised sources of infectious agents in organisations.
Any object capable of inflicting a penetrating injury, which may or may not be contaminated
with blood and/or body substances. This includes needles and any other sharp objects or
instruments designed to perform penetrating procedures.
A receptacle designed to the relevant Australian Standard for the disposal of sharps.
Precautions designed to reduce the risk of transmission of micro-organisms from both
recognised and unrecognised sources of infection in organisations.
Free from all living micro-organisms, usually described as a probability (eg the probability of
a surviving microorganism being 1 in 1 million).
The destruction of all living organisms, including spores.
Device that removes debris by a process called cavitation, in which waves of acoustic energy
are propagated in aqueous solutions to disrupt the bonds that hold particulate matter to the
surfaces of medical devices.
Automatic unit that cleans and thermally disinfects instruments, by using a high-temperature
cycle rather than a chemical bath.
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FORMATIVE CHECKPOINT
Before you can proceed with any further learning or tasks you need to submit
formative tasks 5,6 and 7 to your trainer.
Your trainer will contact you to discuss your submission. They will provide;
•Comments that will allow you to improve your submission.
•Questions to gain a better understanding of your knowledge of the subject.
•General guidance so that you can improve your skills and knowledge.
•Encouragement to expand your thinking towards better solutions.
You are to make the necessary changes as instructed by your trainer and submit the documents for re-evaluation by
your trainer.
ASSESSMENT A. KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS 3.
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SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT A. KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS
You are required to learn the information in this learning material covering the units of;
•Work within a massage framework.
•Comply with infection control policies and procedures.
•Contribute to WHS processes.
•Administer a practice.
At each formative checkpoint your trainer will provide you with a series of knowledge questions covering the
information in this learning material. You are to answer these questions within an allocated time frame. You will be
assessed on demonstration of your knowledge on this subject matter.
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Possible questions continued.
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SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT B. DEVELOP OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR A MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE. DOCUMENT
ASSESSMENT
You are to demonstrate your knowledge and technical skills by developing procedures for the operations of a massage
therapy practice. Your procedures are to include daily administration, marketing strategies, financial documentation and
human resources for payroll and employee records. You are to address the issues of work health and safety for staff and
clients, infection control, waste minimisation and daily cleaning and maintenance tasks. You are to develop procedures
for delivering massage treatments using professional standards, treatment timeframes, fee structure, routine duties and
stock control. All procedures must comply with statutory and regulatory requirements. Submit your typed document to
your trainer for assessment.
Marking Criteria
This completes the learning and assessment material for these units.
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